7 | Health Services 7.2 Screening on reception and transfer of records IHMS staff advised the Commission that a standardised assessment form was completed whenever anyone was received at the centre. The Commission was told that the assessment included comprehensive alcohol and other drugs screening, as well as screening for mental health issues and cognitive impairments. As recently highlighted by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, screening may have an ‘immediate benefit by identifying the person’s support needs while in prison or detention, as well as longer term benefits in identifying the supports and services they require upon the person’s release from custody’.75 RECOMMENDATION 10: The Department and IHMS should ensure that every initial assessment includes a robust assessment of mental health and cognitive disability, as well as screening for neurodevelopmental disability to identify support needs. RECOMMENDATION 11: Where a screening assessment identifies a significant mental impairment, cognitive disability or neurodevelopmental disability, this should prompt an assessment by the Department and IHMS of the decisionmaking supports that may be required by that person. RECOMMENDATION 12: The Government should support and provide resourcing to the Department to liaise with state and territory corrective services, youth justice departments and justice health agencies in the development of national practice guidelines for screening in custody, as recommended by the Disability Royal Commission.76 IHMS informed the Commission that timely medical handovers had improved for incoming transfers directly from the prison system. If records did not accompany the incoming detained person, IHMS were usually able to access them within 8 hours. Early access to medical information enabled IHMS staff to prepare medications and ensure minimal disruption to continuity of care. The Commission was pleased to hear of this improvement noting that service interruptions have been observed in the past because of this issue.77 36